Farmers from Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders, South Lanarkshire and Perthshire put hat into the ring
Six candidates have now confirmed they will stand in NFU Scotland’s Presidential elections in February – three for the President post, and three for the two Vice President posts.
The election for these key appointments within Scottish agriculture will take place at the Union’s Council meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow on Tuesday 7 February 2017. The Union’s AGM and annual dinner will be staged at the same venue the day before (Monday 6 February).
Any NFU Scotland member can be nominated for election, providing they are proposed and seconded by fellow NFU Scotland members. The presidential position is held for two years and a President can serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms. Under the terms of the constitution, those elected to the position of Vice President will initially serve for two years before the post reverts to an annual election. Members of NFU Scotland’s Council – a body made up from representatives of each of the Union’s 73 branches – will select the successful candidates.
Current President Allan Bowie, who farms in Fife and Stirlingshire, will complete his first two-year term at the Union’s forthcoming AGM and has indicated that he will be standing for election for a second two-year term.
Both Vice Presidents Rob Livesey from the Borders, who was first elected to the position in 2013, and Dumfriesshire farmer Andrew McCornick, who was elected to the position in February 2015 for the first time, have confirmed they will stand for President in the up and coming elections.
Three new candidates have come forward, putting their hat into the ring to contend for two Vice President positions.
Dumfries and Galloway Regional Chairman, Gary Mitchell, a past chairman of the Milk Committee, has indicated that he will be standing for Vice President, as has Less Favoured Areas Committee Chairman Martin Kennedy, who farms in Highland Perthshire.
South Lanarkshire farmer Tom French, NFU Scotland’s Forth and Clyde Regional Chairman, has also stepped forward to contend for Vice President.
There is still time for others to come forward as anyone wishing to stand as President or Vice President should contact NFUS Chief Executive Scott Walker to obtain a proposal form, which must then be signed and returned to him by close of play on Monday, 12 December 2016.
Details on the candidates will be announced at the Union’s Christmas Press Briefing on Wednesday 14 December.
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